Online storage start-up pitches 'USB stick on the internet'

Livedrive.com is offering small businesses a simpler way to create online back-ups of their files and data.

Although there are several similar services from companies like BT, Microsoft and HP, Livedrive reckons it offers an easier way for users to create secure copies of files which they can access from anywhere.

Andrew Michael, CEO at Livedrive, said: "It's taken us a while to get the software right and we'll have a Mac version soon.It gives you a drive letter on your desktop - anything on that drive is then intelligently synched - it saves changes to documents. BT and other services are just web-based - you must upload the files yourself. This is like a USB stick but it is online."

Michael, who founded FastHosts, said the start-up was well funded - he sold his previous firm for £61m in 2006.

He said: "The service is aimed at prosumers and the small business market - the biggest benefit is access anywhere - you can install the software on several machines and access the data and you can send links so other people can access specific files."

The data is encrypted before being sent and Livedrive cannot decrypt the files without the customer's password. Reg readers can get a free trial of the beta trial here. ®